I am just finishing up a 14 x 14, 18 count needlepoint and was looking for my next project online.
My biggest gripe is that it seems most manufact. or hand- painted canvas makers are putting out mostly 12 or 14 count canvas. Arggghhhhhh..... Don't they realize finer the canvas the better the outcome? I passed up some beautiful and very $$ canvas simply because of the low grade canvas count.
Another gripe while I am at ( I am on a roll this morning) it is that many are advertised as petitpoint and on 12/14 canvas. I dont know what planet they are living on but petitpoint is always done on 22 count or better.
Thank for letting me blow off some steam. Back to your normal programing....... :)
Hi Cindy, you have to blow off steam to change the world :-) I think most manufacturers do realize that finer canvas has a different outcome and the different use of the stitched piece. There are a lot of choices to make before a kit is on the market. I myself do like stitching
10/12 count with tapestry wool aswell as I like silk/wool on 18 count, but as it comes to 'use' the needlepoint I often prefer a pillow or bag above another piece on the wall. I'm curious about what type of yarn you use and if you like your canvas printed or do you count and stitch from a pattern? Hope you find something interesting to stitch next.
Where are you? A lot of the manufactured (printed) stuff may be on penelope, or 14 count, but not so much in the hand-painted. There are some designers that do stuff on the grosser count - because a lot of stitchers seem to like that for the less fine, ornament type things - and in the lower cost items - they're easy to stitch with the wool. I was just talking with some designers about this the other day. All of whom work mostly on 18 count - talking about if any of us were doing any thing on 14 count or 12 count.
There is a lot of hand-painted on 18 count. What kind of designs do you like? There are many designers with sites you could look at and then find who's carrying them.
That's bizarre. We've had some 14 ct printed (manufactured) by some of the European companies which you can stitch thru the inner threads so it's finer (like doing over 1 in the midst of over 2 on linen).
There are a couple of shops in this area with an amazing amount of painted canvases - The Needlewoan East in Falls Church - has a phenomenal stock. And I'm pretty sure that The Point of It All in DC does as well. If you've seen a design on a painted canvas that you like, I know that Sue (at Needlewoman East) will do a phone order.
This site at Elaine Magnin has links to a lot of designers, you could follow them to find some canvases that fit your desires. I was surprised to see as much on 13 count as I did - but there's a lot on 18.
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link from Melissa Shirly goes to a lot of other designes, themes.Check out the John Johannsen designs - a lot of them are in both 13 & 18count - very interesting. I'm really struck by the lilac sheep.http://melissashirleydesigns.com/gallery/http://melissashirleydesigns.com/gallery/?cat=13http://melissashirleydesigns.com/gallery/?index=1952&cat=13There was a good link from M's Canvas house in Lexington, KY - to manydesigners (it's a really neat store). I was trying to find a link to one ofmy personal favorites, Betty Rae - but was unlikely. Her painted canvasesare stunning (I have a huge bell pull of tropical birds that it a WIP).
Goodness, where are you looking? As I recall, the only time I have ever seen 12 count canvas described as petit point was on Ebay where obviously the seller didn't know anything about the product. You often see pieces there described as embroidery + cross stitch + needlepoint + petit point -- I think the seller is trying to put in lots of keywords without regard to what the piece actually is.
I don't know what kind of designs you like to stitch, but you shouldn't have any trouble finding 18 count painted canvases. If you tell us the kind of thing you like (florals? Hallowe'en? angels? snowmen? etc.) and the type of project you want (pillow? brick cover? ornament? stocking? welcome sign? standing figure? etc.) we can suggest more designers to check out.
I've already replied, but then I forgot that I had intended to say....
Yes, the designers realize that the finer the canvas the better the outcome. They are also responding to market pressure -- stitchers who aren't able to see the finer count canvas may be able to work on 14 or 12 count. Thus some designers make their canvases available in either count -- with less detail showing on the larger mesh, obviously. Cooper Oaks comes to mind, but there are others...
Thanks to everyone who replied to my little rant. :) A *big* thanks for all the links to some neddlepoint sites I didnt even know exsisted! I love SharonG designs and basically anything that has a lot of color in it. I dont work by graph or chart at all. LOL, I do this to relax and reading charts gives me a headache.
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